My trip to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

I had a wonderful time at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, NC, with my parents on Friday. It was fun, but exhausting. We were very lucky that the weather was good while we were there.  Here are some of the highlights.



First of all, I went to Grandfather Mountain hoping to meet as many of Diana Gabaldon's fans as I could. The T-shirt (my own creation) reads, "I'm a fan of Diana Gabaldon and the OUTLANDER series!", and it was very effective in attracting the attention of OUTLANDER fans and their family members. A number of people asked if Diana was there at the Games, but I told them, "No, she's in Flagstaff this week. Writing, I hope." <g> (Even in the midst of all the excitement over the TV series, she still has a book to finish!) I always enjoy talking to other fans, especially at an event like this, and I met at least a couple dozen of them.







We watched a demonstration of border collies herding sheep, which was very entertaining. My friend Cathy MacGregor told me years ago that I have a "border collie personality", and she's right. <g>

What does that mean, exactly? Well, border collies are known as intelligent, hard-working, and tenacious, and always trying to herd the sheep in more or less the same direction.  That description happens to fit very well with what I do as Section Leader of Diana's section of the Compuserve Books and Writers Community, a position I've held for almost five years.





And speaking of Compuserve....I met Julia Miller, a forum member from Georgia, and she gave me this little rubber gavel as a present.  It says "Czarina of Traffic" on one side, and "GONK! Your message has been moved" on the other side. I laughed when I saw it. How very appropriate! Thanks, Julia! <g>



Tossing the caber. I watched them do this, and I still don't know how they managed it. Amazing!



Here I am with my dad. He was a good sport about the whole thing, and helped get my scooter over some rough terrain.



My mom, relaxing at the Games. Note our matching OUTLANDER T-shirts!



A pipe band. Gotta love those tall men in kilts! <g>



Piper.



Part of the fun of these Highland Games is walking around looking at all the different clan booths. Here's a collection of antique Scottish weaponry that I saw at one of the clan tents. I wonder if Arch Bug's axe would have looked like this one?



At the Clan Fraser booth, they had a basket of Brach's strawberry candies. I had to laugh when I saw them. Talk about symbolism! "Honor and courage and constancy" and all that. <g>

I had a great time, and I would definitely encourage any of you who live in the vicinity of western North Carolina to come to the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games some day. It was fun!